Catalyst containing 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or the hydrolysis products thereof, and use thereof in a hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking process

ABSTRACT

The invention has as its object a catalyst that comprises a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one element from group VIII, at least one element from group VIB, and at least one additive that is selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid. The invention also relates to the method for preparation of said catalyst and its use in a method for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking.

The invention relates to an additive catalyst with 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid, its method for preparation, and its use in the field of hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking.

Usually, a catalyst for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon fractions has as its object to eliminate the sulfur-containing or nitrogen-containing compounds that are contained in the latter so as to bring, for example, a petroleum product up to the required specifications (sulfur content, aromatic compound content, etc.) for a given application (automotive fuel, gasoline or diesel fuel, domestic fuel oil, jet fuel). It can also involve pretreating this feedstock so as to eliminate the impurities from it or to hydrogenate it before making it undergo various methods for transformation in order to modify its physico-chemical properties, such as, for example, the methods for reforming, hydrocracking of vacuum distillates, catalytic cracking, hydroconversion of atmospheric or vacuum residues. The composition and the use of hydrotreatment catalysts are particularly well described in the article by B. S. Clausen, H. T. Topsøe, and F. E. Massoth, obtained from the work Catalysis Science and Technology, Volume 11 (1996), Springer-Verlag.

The tightening of the automobile pollution standards in the European Community (Journal Officiel de l'Union européenne [Official Journal of the European Union], L76, Mar. 22, 2003, Directive 2003/70/CE, pages L76/10-L76/19) has forced the refiners to reduce the sulfur content to a very great extent in the diesel fuels and the gasolines (to the maximum 10 parts per million (ppm) by weight of sulfur on Jan. 1, 2009 versus 50 ppm on Jan. 1, 2005). Furthermore, the refiners are forced to use feedstocks that are increasingly refractory to hydrotreatment methods, on the one hand because the crudes are increasingly heavy and consequently contain more and more impurities, and on the other hand because of the increase in conversion methods in the refineries. Actually, the latter generate fractions that are more difficult to hydrotreat than the fractions that are directly obtained from atmospheric distillation. “More difficult to hydrotreat” usually means higher operating temperatures to reach the same sulfur content in the effluent, and consequently service lives that can be reduced. These feedstocks require catalysts that have hydrodesulfurizing and hydrogenating functions that are greatly improved in relation to traditional catalysts.

In addition, the methods for conversion such as catalytic cracking or hydrocracking use catalysts that have an acid function, which makes them particularly sensitive to the presence of nitrogen-containing impurities and particularly basic nitrogen-containing compounds. It is therefore necessary to use catalysts for pretreatment of these feedstocks so as to remove these compounds.

The conventional hydrotreatment catalysts generally comprise an oxide substrate and an active phase based on metals from groups VIB and VIII in their oxide forms as well as phosphorus. The preparation of these catalysts generally comprises a step for impregnation of metals and phosphorus on the substrate, followed by drying and calcination making it possible to obtain the active phase in the oxide forms thereof. Before their use in a hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking reaction, these catalysts are generally subjected to sulfurization so as to form the active radical.

The addition of an organic compound to the hydrotreatment catalysts to improve their activity has been recommended by one skilled in the art, in particular for catalysts that have been prepared by impregnation followed by drying without subsequent calcination. These catalysts are often called “additive dried catalysts.”

Numerous documents describe the use of different ranges of organic compounds as additives, such as organic compounds that contain nitrogen and/or organic compounds that contain oxygen.

A family of compounds that is now well known in literature relates to chelating nitrogen-containing compounds (EP0181035, EP1043069, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,908) with, by way of example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine or nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA).

In the family of organic compounds that contain oxygen, the use of mono-, di-, or polyalcohols that are optionally etherified is described in the documents WO96/41848, WO01/76741, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,012,340, 3,954,673, EP601722, and WO2005/035691. The prior art more rarely mentions additives that comprise ester groups (EP1046424, WO2006/077326).

There are also multiple patents that claim the use of carboxylic acids (EP1402948, EP0482817). In particular, in the document EP0482817, citric acid, but also tartaric acid, butyric acid, hydroxyhexanoic acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, glyceric acid, glycolic acid, hydroxybutyric acid have been described. Specificity resides in the drying that is to be conducted at a temperature that is lower than 200° C.

The document US2014/353213 describes the use of heterocyclic compounds, containing oxygen or nitrogen in the cycle, such as lactams, oxacycloalkanes or lactones. Relative to the lactones in particular, this document cites β-propriolactone, γ-butyrolactone, and δ-valerolactone.

However, none of the documents that relate to the additives describes the use of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, or even 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid that can be obtained directly or indirectly by the hydrolysis of 2-acetylbutyrolactone.

Regardless of the compounds that are selected, the modifications that are made do not always make it possible to increase the performance of the catalyst enough to meet the specifications relating to the sulfur and/or nitrogen contents of the fuels. In addition, it is often very complicated to initiate their industrial deployment as long as the methods are complex to implement.

Consequently, it is turning out to be essential—for the manufacturers of catalysts—to find new hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking catalysts with improved performance.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a catalyst that comprises a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one element from group VIII, at least one element from group VIB, and at least one additive that is selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid.

Hereinafter, hydrolysis products of 2-acetylbutyrolactone are defined as 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid.

The applicant actually noted that the use of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products as (an) organic additive(s) on a catalyst that contains at least one element from group VIII and at least one element from group VIB made it possible to obtain a hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking catalyst showing improved catalytic performance.

Actually, the catalyst according to the invention shows an activity that is increased in relation to non-additive catalysts and to dried additive catalysts that are known. Typically, thanks to the increase in activity, the temperature that is necessary for reaching a desired sulfur or nitrogen content (for example, 10 ppm of sulfur in the case of a diesel fuel fraction, in ULSD or Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel mode according to English terminology) can be lowered. Likewise, stability is increased, because the service life is extended thanks to the necessary temperature reduction.

The catalyst according to this invention is in addition easy to prepare because of a high solubility of 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in water or any other protic polar solvent.

According to a variant, the content of element from group VIB is between 5 and 40% by weight that is expressed in terms of metal oxide from group VIB in relation to the total weight of the catalyst; the content of element from group VIII is between 1 and 10% by weight that is expressed in terms of metal oxide from group VIII in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.

According to a variant, the molar ratio of element from group VIII to element from group VIB in the catalyst is between 0.1 and 0.8.

According to a variant, the catalyst also contains phosphorus, with the phosphorus content being between 0.1 and 20% by weight that is expressed in terms of P₂O₅ in relation to the total weight of the catalyst, and the ratio of phosphorus to the element from group VIB in the catalyst is greater than or equal to 0.05.

According to a variant, the total content of additive(s) selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid is between 1 and 45% by weight in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.

According to a variant, the catalyst also contains an organic compound in addition to the additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, with said organic compound containing oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur. According to this variant, the organic compound is preferably selected from a compound that comprises one or more chemical groups selected from among the following groups: carboxylic, alcohol, thiol, thioether, sulfone, sulfoxide, ether, aldehyde, ketone, ester, carbonate, amine, nitrile, imide, oxime, urea and amide. Preferably, it is selected from among triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), maleic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, propylene carbonate, bicine, or tricine.

According to a variant, the substrate contains from 0.1 to 50% by weight of zeolite.

According to a variant, the catalyst is at least partially sulfurized.

The invention also relates to the method for preparation of said catalyst that comprises the following steps:

-   -   a) at least one component of an element from group VIB, at least         one component of an element from group VIII, at least one         additive that is selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone,         2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or         3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid, and optionally         phosphorus are brought into contact with a substrate based on         alumina or silica or silica-alumina, or a regenerated catalyst         that contains a substrate based on alumina or silica or         silica-alumina, at least one component of an element from group         VIB, at least one component of an element from group VIII, and         optionally phosphorus is brought into contact with at least one         additive that is selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone,         2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutenoic acid and/or         3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid in such a way as to         obtain a catalyst precursor,     -   b) said catalyst precursor that is obtained from step a) is         dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., without being         calcined subsequently.

According to a variant, step a) is the next step:

-   -   a′) a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina is         impregnated by at least one solution that contains at least one         element from group VIB, at least one element from group VIII, at         least one additive that is selected from among         2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid         and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid, and         optionally phosphorus in such a way as to obtain a catalyst         precursor.

According to another variant, step a) comprises the following steps:

-   -   a1) a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina is         impregnated by at least one solution that contains at least one         element from group VIB, at least one element from group VIII,         and optionally phosphorus to obtain an impregnated substrate,     -   a2) the impregnated substrate that is obtained in step a1) is         dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. to obtain a         dried impregnated substrate, and optionally the dried         impregnated substrate is calcined to obtain a calcined         impregnated substrate,     -   a3) the dried and optionally calcined impregnated substrate that         is obtained in step a2) is impregnated by an impregnation         solution that comprises at least one additive that is selected         from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone,         2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or         3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid in such a way as to         obtain a catalyst precursor,     -   a4) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step         a3) is allowed to mature.

According to another variant, step a) comprises the following steps:

-   -   a1′) a substrate that comprises at least one additive that is         selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone,         2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or         3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid and optionally at         least one part of phosphorus is prepared,     -   a2′) the substrate that is obtained in step a1′) is impregnated         by an impregnation solution that comprises at least one element         from group VIB, at least one element from group VIII, and         optionally phosphorus in such a way as to obtain a catalyst         precursor,     -   a3′) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step         a2′) is allowed to mature.

According to another variant, step a) comprises the following steps:

-   -   a1″) a solution that contains at least one element from group         VIB, at least one element from group VIII, at least one organic         compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur, and         optionally phosphorus is brought into contact by co-impregnation         with a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina in         such a way as to obtain an impregnated substrate,     -   a2″) the impregnated substrate that is obtained from step a1″)         is dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., without         being calcined subsequently, to obtain a dried impregnated         substrate,     -   a3″) the dried impregnated substrate that is obtained from step         a2″) is brought into contact with a solution of at least one         organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or         sulfur that is identical to or different from the one that is         used in step a1″) in such a way as to obtain a catalyst         precursor,     -   a4″) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step         a3″) is allowed to mature, and at least one of the organic         compounds of step a1″) or of step a3″) is selected from among         2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid         and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid.

According to a variant, when it is desired to prepare the catalyst according to the invention starting from a regenerated catalyst, step a) of the method for preparation comprises the following steps:

-   -   a1′″) a regenerated catalyst that contains a substrate based on         alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one component of         an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element         from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus is impregnated by an         impregnation solution that comprises at least one additive that         is selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone,         2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or         3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid in such a way as to         obtain a catalyst precursor,     -   a2′″) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in         step a1′″) is allowed to mature.

According to a variant, the total molar ratio of the additive(s) selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid to element(s) from group VIII is between 0.1 and 5.0 mol/mol.

The invention also relates to the use of the catalyst according to the invention or prepared according to the preparation method according to the invention in a method for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of hydrocarbon fractions.

Below, the groups of chemical elements are provided according to the CAS classification (CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Editor CRC Press, Editor-in-Chief D. R. Lide, 81^(st) Edition, 2000-2001). For example, group VIII according to the CAS classification corresponds to the metals of columns 8, 9 and 10 according to the new IUPAC classification.

Hydrotreatment is defined as reactions that encompass in particular hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitrification (HDN), and the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds (HDA).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Detailed Catalyst

The catalyst according to the invention is an additive catalyst with at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products. More particularly, the catalyst according to the invention comprises a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one element from group VIII, at least one element from group VIB, and at least one additive that is selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid.

The catalyst according to the invention can be a fresh catalyst, i.e., a catalyst that has not been used as catalyst previously in a catalytic unit and in particular in hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking.

The catalyst according to the invention can also be a rejuvenated catalyst. A rejuvenated catalyst is defined as a catalyst that has been used as a catalyst in a catalytic unit and in particular in hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking and that has been subjected to at least one calcination step so as to burn the coke (regeneration). This regenerated catalyst is then supplemented at least with an additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products to obtain the rejuvenated catalyst. This rejuvenated catalyst can contain one or more other organic additive(s) that can be added before, after, or at the same time as the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products.

The hydrogenating function of said catalyst, also called active phase, is ensured by at least one element from group VIB and by at least one element from group VIII.

The preferred elements from group VIB are molybdenum and tungsten. The preferred elements from group VIII are non-noble elements and in particular cobalt and nickel. Advantageously, the hydrogenating function is selected from the group that is formed by the following combinations of elements: cobalt-molybdenum, nickel-molybdenum, nickel-tungsten or nickel-cobalt-molybdenum, or nickel-molybdenum-tungsten.

In the case where significant hydrodesulfurization or hydrodenitrification and hydrogenation activity of aromatic compounds is desired, the hydrogenating function is advantageously ensured by the combination of nickel and molybdenum; a combination of nickel and tungsten in the presence of molybdenum can also be advantageous. In the case of feedstocks of vacuum distillate type or heavier, combinations of cobalt-nickel-molybdenum type can advantageously be used.

The total content of elements from group VIB and from group VIII is advantageously greater than 6% by weight that is expressed in terms of oxide in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.

The content of element from group VIB is between 5 and 40% by weight, preferably between 8 and 35% by weight, and in a more preferred manner between 10 and 30% by weight that is expressed in terms of metal oxide from group VIB in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.

The content of element from group VIII is between 1 and 10% by weight, preferably between 1.5 and 9% by weight, and in a more preferred manner between 2 and 8% by weight that is expressed in terms of metal oxide from group VIII in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.

The molar ratio of element from group VIII to element from group VIB in the catalyst is preferably between 0.1 and 0.8, preferably between 0.15 and 0.6, and in an even more preferred manner between 0.2 and 0.5.

The catalyst according to the invention advantageously also comprises phosphorus as dopant. The dopant is an added element that in itself does not have any catalytic nature but that increases the catalytic activity of the active phase.

The phosphorus content in said catalyst is preferably between 0.1 and 20% by weight that is expressed in terms of P₂O₅, preferably between 0.2 and 15% by weight that is expressed in terms of P₂O₅, and in a very preferred manner between 0.3 and 11% by weight that is expressed in terms of P₂O₅.

The molar ratio of phosphorus to the element from group VIB in the catalyst is greater than or equal to 0.05, preferably greater than or equal to 0.07, preferably between 0.08 and 1, preferably between 0.1 and 0.9, and in a very preferred manner between 0.15 and 0.8.

The catalyst according to the invention can advantageously also contain at least one dopant that is selected from among boron, fluorine, and a mixture of boron and fluorine.

When the catalyst contains boron, the boron content is preferably between 0.1 and 10% by weight that is expressed in terms of boron oxide, preferably between 0.2 and 7% by weight, and in a very preferred manner between 0.2 and 5% by weight.

When the catalyst contains fluorine, the fluorine content is preferably between 0.1 and 10% by weight that is expressed in terms of fluorine, preferably between 0.2 and 7% by weight, and in a very preferred manner between 0.2 and 5% by weight.

When the catalyst contains boron and fluorine, the total content of boron and fluorine is preferably between 0.1 and 10% by weight that is expressed in terms of boron oxide and fluorine, preferably between 0.2 and 7% by weight, and in a very preferred manner between 0.2 and 5% by weight.

The catalyst according to the invention comprises a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina.

When the substrate of said catalyst is based on alumina, it contains more than 50% alumina, and, in a general way, it contains only the alumina or the silica-alumina as defined below.

Preferably, the substrate comprises alumina, and preferably extruded alumina. Preferably, the alumina is gamma-alumina.

The alumina substrate advantageously has a total pore volume of between 0.1 and 1.5 cm³·g⁻¹, preferably between 0.4 and 1.1 cm³·g⁻¹. The total pore volume is measured by mercury porosimetry according to the Standard ASTM D4284 with a wetting angle of 140°, as is described in the work Rouquerol, F.; Rouquerol, J.; Singh, K. “Adsorption by Powders & Porous Solids: Principle, Methodology and Applications,” Academic Press, 1999, for example by means of an Autopore III™ model device of the trademark Microméritics™.

The specific surface area of the alumina substrate is advantageously between 5 and 400 m²·g⁻¹, preferably between 10 and 350 m²·g⁻¹, in a more preferred manner between 40 and 350 m²·g⁻¹. The specific surface area is determined in this invention by the B.E.T. method according to the Standard ASTM D3663, a method that is described in the same work cited above.

In another preferred case, the substrate of said catalyst is a silica-alumina that contains at least 50% by weight of alumina. The silica content in the substrate is at most 50% by weight, most often less than or equal to 45% by weight, preferably less than or equal to 40% by weight.

The silicon sources are well known to one skilled in the art. It is possible to cite by way of example silicic acid, silica in powder form or in colloidal form (silica sol), tetraethyl orthosilicate Si(OEt)₄.

When the substrate of said catalyst is based on silica, it contains more than 50% by weight of silica and, in a general way, it contains only silica.

According to a particularly preferred variant, the substrate consists of alumina, silica, or silica-alumina.

The substrate can also advantageously contain in addition 0.1 to 50% by weight of zeolite. In this case, all of the zeolite sources and all of the associated preparation methods that are known to one skilled in the art can be incorporated. Preferably, zeolite is selected from among the groups FAU, BEA, ISV, IWR, IWW, MEI, UWY, and in a preferred manner, zeolite is selected from between the groups FAU and BEA, such as the Y zeolite and/or beta-zeolite.

In certain particular cases, the substrate can also contain at least one part of metal(s) VIB and VIII, and/or at least one part of dopant(s), including phosphorus, and/or at least one part of the organic compound(s) containing oxygen (at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products or another additive that contains oxygen), and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur, which have been introduced outside of impregnations (introduced, for example, during the preparation of the substrate).

The substrate advantageously comes in the form of balls, extrudates, pellets, or agglomerates that are irregular and non-spherical, whose specific shape may result from a crushing step.

The catalyst according to the invention also comprises at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid. 2-Acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid correspond respectively to the following formulas (a) and (b) and (c) that are described below:

The presence of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products on the catalyst makes it possible to observe an increased activity in relation to the non-additive catalysts and the additive dried catalysts that are known.

Without being linked by any theory, it will be noted that 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid can be obtained directly or indirectly by hydrolysis of 2-acetylbutyrolactone.

According to a variant, the presence of at least one additive that is selected from among 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid on the catalyst can be due to the addition as additive(s), alone or in a mixture.

According to another variant, the presence of the additive 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid on the catalyst can be due to the hydrolysis of the 2-acetylbutyrolactone that is contained in the impregnation solution that is added to said catalytic precursor or substrate and optionally to a consecutive dehydration step.

The total content of additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products on the catalyst according to the invention is between 1 and 45% by weight, preferably between 2 and 30% by weight, and in a more preferred manner between 3 and 25% by weight in relation to the total weight of the catalyst. During the preparation of the catalyst, the drying step(s) following the introduction of the additive(s) is (are) carried out at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. in such a way as to preserve preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, and in a very preferred manner at least 70%, of the amount of additive(s) introduced calculated on the basis of the carbon remaining on the catalyst.

In addition to the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, the catalyst according to the invention can comprise another organic compound or a group of organic compounds known for their role of additives. The function of additives is to increase the catalytic activity in relation to the non-additive catalysts.

Later in the text, “said additives” will be defined as at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products.

More particularly, the catalyst according to the invention can also comprise one or more organic compounds that contain oxygen other than said additives and/or one or more organic compounds that contain nitrogen and/or one or more organic compounds that contain sulfur. Preferably, the catalyst according to the invention can also comprise one or more organic compounds that contain oxygen other than said additives, and/or one or more organic compounds that contain nitrogen. Preferably, the organic compound contains at least 2 carbon atoms and at least one oxygen and/or nitrogen atom.

Generally, the organic compound is selected from a compound that comprises one or more chemical groups selected from among the following groups: carboxylic, alcohol, thiol, thioether, sulfone, sulfoxide, ether, aldehyde, ketone, ester, carbonate, amine, nitrile, imide, oxime, urea and amide. Preferably, the organic compound is selected from a compound that comprises two alcohol groups and/or two carboxylic groups and/or two ester groups and/or at least one amide group.

The organic compound that contains oxygen can be one or more selected from among the compounds that comprise one or more chemical groups selected from among the following groups: carboxylic, alcohol, ether, aldehyde, ketone, ester, or carbonate. By way of example, the organic compound that contains oxygen can be one or more selected from the group that consists of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, a polyethylene glycol (with a molecular weight of between 200 and 1,500 g/mol), propylene glycol, 2-butoxyethanol, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, glycerol, acetophenone, 2,4-pentanedione, pentanone, acetic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, a C1-C4 dialkyl succinate, methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, dibenzofuran, a crown ether, orthophthalic acid, glucose, and propylene carbonate.

The organic compound that contains nitrogen can be one or more selected from among the compounds that comprise one or more chemical groups selected from between an amine or nitrile group. By way of example, the organic compound that contains nitrogen can be one or more selected from the group that consists of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, hexamethylenediamine, triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, acetonitrile, octylamine, guanidine, or a carbazole.

The organic compound that contains oxygen and nitrogen can be one or more that are selected from among the compounds that comprise one or more chemical groups that are selected from among the following groups: carboxylic acid, alcohol, ether, aldehyde, ketone, ester, carbonate, amine, nitrile, imide, amide, urea or oxime. By way of example, the organic compound that contains oxygen and nitrogen can be one or more selected from the group that consists of 1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, monoethanolamine (MEA), N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), alanine, glycine, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), tetramethyl urea, glutamic acid, dimethylglyoxime, bicine or tricine, or else a lactam.

The organic compound that contains sulfur can be one or more selected from among the compounds that comprise one or more chemical groups selected from among the following groups: thiol, thioether, sulfone or sulfoxide. By way of example, the organic compound that contains sulfur can be one or more selected from the group that consists of thioglycolic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid, a sulfonated derivative of a benzothiophene, or a sulfoxidated derivative of a benzothiophene.

Preferably, the organic compound contains oxygen; in a preferred manner, it is selected from among triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), maleic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, propylene carbonate, bicine, or tricine.

When it/they is/are present, the total content of organic compound(s) with an additive group (other than said additives) containing oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur on the catalyst according to the invention is between 1 and 30% by weight, preferably between 1.5 and 25% by weight, and in a more preferred manner between 2 and 20% by weight in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.

Preparation Method

The catalyst according to the invention can be prepared according to any method for preparation of an additive substrate catalyst by an organic compound that is known to one skilled in the art.

The catalyst according to the invention can be prepared according to a preparation method that comprises the following steps:

-   -   a) at least one component of an element from group VIB, at least         one component of an element from group VIII, at least one         additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its         hydrolysis products, and optionally phosphorus are brought into         contact with a substrate based on alumina or silica or         silica-alumina, or a regenerated catalyst that contains a         substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least         one component of an element from group VIB, at least one         component of an element from group VIII, and optionally         phosphorus is brought into contact with at least one additive         that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its         hydrolysis products, in such a way as to obtain a catalyst         precursor,     -   b) said catalyst precursor that is obtained from step a) is         dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., without         subsequently calcining it.

First, the method for preparation of a fresh catalyst will be described, and then subsequently, the method for preparation of a rejuvenated catalyst will be described.

Method for Preparation of a Fresh Catalyst

Step a) for bringing into contact comprises several implementations that are distinguished in particular by the time when the additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products is introduced, which can be carried out either at the same time as the impregnation of the metals (co-impregnation), or after the impregnation of the metals (post-impregnation), or, finally, before the impregnation of the metals (pre-impregnation). In addition, the step for bringing into contact can combine at least two implementations, for example the co-impregnation and the post-impregnation. These different implementations will be described below. Each method, taken by itself or in combination, can take place in one or more steps.

It is important to emphasize that the catalyst according to the invention—during its preparation method—does not undergo calcination after the introduction of the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, or of any other organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur so as to preserve at least in part the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, or any other organic compound in the catalyst. Here, calcination is defined as a heat treatment under a gas that contains air or oxygen at a temperature that is higher than or equal to 200° C.

However, the catalyst precursor can undergo a calcination step before the introduction of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, or of any other organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur, in particular after the impregnation of elements from groups VIB and VIII (post-impregnation) optionally in the presence of phosphorus and/or another dopant or during a regeneration of a catalyst that has already been used. The hydrogenating function that comprises the elements from group VIB and from group VIII of the catalyst according to the invention, also called active phase, is then found in an oxide form.

According to another variant, the catalyst precursor does not undergo a calcination step after the impregnation of elements from groups VIB and VIII (post-impregnation); it is simply dried. The hydrogenating function that comprises the elements from group VIB and from group VIII of the catalyst according to the invention, also called active phase, is not then found in an oxide form.

Regardless of the implementation, step a) for the bringing into contact generally comprises at least one impregnation step, preferably a dry impregnation step, in which the substrate is impregnated by an impregnation solution that comprises at least one element from group VIB, at least one element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus. In the case of the co-impregnation described below in detail, this impregnation solution comprises in addition at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products. The elements from group VIB and from group VIII are generally introduced by impregnation, preferably by dry impregnation, or by excess solution impregnation. Preferably, all of the elements from group VIB and from group VIII are introduced by impregnation, preferably by dry impregnation, regardless of the implementation.

The elements from group VIB and from group VIII can also be introduced in part during the shaping of said substrate at the time of mixing with at least one alumina gel selected as a matrix, with the rest of the hydrogenating elements then being subsequently introduced by impregnation. In a preferred manner, when the elements from group VIB and from group VIII are introduced in part at the time of mixing, the proportion of element from group VIB that is introduced during this step is less than 5% by weight of the total amount of element from group VIB that is introduced onto the final catalyst.

In a preferred manner, the element from group VIB is introduced at the same time as the element from group VIII, regardless of the method of introduction.

The molybdenum precursors that can be used are well known to one skilled in the art. For example, among the molybdenum sources, it is possible to use oxides and hydroxides, molybdic acids and the salts thereof, in particular the ammonium salts, such as ammonium molybdate, ammonium heptamolybdate, phosphomolybdic acid (H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀) and the salts thereof, and optionally silicomolybdic acid (H₄SiMo₁₂O₄₀) and the salts thereof. The molybdenum sources can also be heteropoly compounds of the following types: Keggin, lacunary Keggin, substituted Keggin, Dawson, Anderson, Strandberg, for example. Preferably used are molybdenum trioxide and heteropolyanions of the following types: Strandberg, Keggin, lacunary Keggin or substituted Keggin.

The tungsten precursors that can be used are also well known to one skilled in the art. For example, among the tungsten sources, it is possible to use oxides and hydroxides, tungstic acids and salts thereof, in particular ammonium salts, such as ammonium tungstate, ammonium metatungstate, phosphotungstic acid and salts thereof, and optionally silicotungstic acid (H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀) and salts thereof. The tungsten sources can also be heteropoly compounds of the following types: Keggin, lacunary Keggin, substituted Keggin, Dawson, for example. Preferably used are the oxides and salts of ammonium, such as ammonium metatungstate or heteropolyanions of the following types: Keggin, lacunary Keggin or substituted Keggin.

The precursors of elements from group VIII that can be used are advantageously selected from among oxides, hydroxides, hydroxycarbonates, carbonates, and nitrates of elements from group VIII; for example, nickel hydroxycarbonate, carbonate or cobalt hydroxide are used in a preferred manner.

Phosphorus, when it is present, can be introduced in its entirety or in part by impregnation. Preferably, it is introduced by impregnation, preferably dry, using a solution that contains the precursors of the elements from group VIB and from group VIII.

Said phosphorus can advantageously be introduced by itself or in a mixture with at least one of the elements from group VIB and from group VIII, during any of the steps for impregnation of the hydrogenating function if the latter is introduced several times. Some or all of said phosphorus can also be introduced during the impregnation of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products if the latter is introduced separately from the hydrogenating function (case of the post- and pre-impregnation described subsequently) in the presence or absence of an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives. It can also be introduced upon synthesis of the substrate, at any step of the synthesis of the latter. It can thus be introduced before, during, or after the mixing of the selected alumina gel matrix, such as, for example and preferably, the aluminum oxyhydroxide (boehmite) precursor of alumina.

The preferred phosphorus precursor is the orthophosphoric acid H₃PO₄, but its salts and esters like the ammonium phosphates are also suitable. Phosphorus can also be introduced at the same time as the element(s) from group VIB in the form of heteropolyanions of the following types: Keggin, lacunary Keggin, substituted Keggin or Strandberg.

The additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products is/are advantageously introduced into an impregnation solution that, according to the preparation method, can be the same solution or a solution that is different from the one that contains the elements from groups VIB and VIII, in a total amount that corresponds:

-   -   to a total molar ratio of the additive(s) selected from         2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products by         element(s) from group VIB of the catalyst precursor of between         0.01 to 5 mol/mol, preferably between 0.05 to 3 mol/mol, in a         preferred manner between 0.1 and 1.5 mol/mol, and in a very         preferred manner between 0.2 and 1 mol/mol, calculated on the         basis of components introduced into the impregnation         solution(s), and     -   to a total molar ratio of the additive(s) selected from         2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products by         element(s) from group VIII of the catalyst precursor of between         0.02 to 17 mol/mol, preferably between 0.1 to 10 mol/mol, in a         preferred manner between 0.2 and 5 mol/mol, and in a very         preferred manner between 0.4 and 3.5 mol/mol, calculated on the         basis of components that are introduced into the impregnation         solution(s).

Any impregnation solution that is described in this invention can comprise any polar solvent that is known to one skilled in the art. Said polar solvent that is used is advantageously selected from the group that is formed by methanol, ethanol, water, phenol, cyclohexanol, taken by themselves or in a mixture. Said polar solvent can also advantageously be selected from the group that is formed by propylene carbonate, DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) or sulfolane, taken by itself or in a mixture. In a preferred manner, a polar protic solvent is used. A list of customary polar solvents as well as their dielectric constant can be found in the book “Solvents and Solvent Effects in Organic Chemistry,” C. Reichardt, Wiley-VCH, 3rd Edition, 2003, pages 472-474. In a very preferred manner, the solvent that is used is water or ethanol, and in a particularly preferred manner, the solvent is water. In a possible embodiment, the solvent can be absent in the impregnation solution, in particular during a pre- or post-impregnation preparation.

When the catalyst also comprises a dopant that is selected from among boron, fluorine, or a mixture of boron and fluorine, the introduction of this/these dopant(s) can be done in the same way as the introduction of phosphorus in various steps of the preparation and in various ways. Said dopant can advantageously be introduced by itself or in a mixture with at least one of the elements from group VIB and from group VIII during any of the steps for impregnation of the hydrogenating function if the latter is introduced several times. Some or all of said dopant can also be introduced during the impregnation of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products if the latter is introduced separately from the hydrogenating function (case of the post- and pre-impregnation described subsequently) in the presence or absence of an organic compound containing oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives. It can also be introduced upon the synthesis of the substrate at any step of the synthesis of the latter. It can thus be introduced before, during, or after the mixing of the selected alumina gel matrix, such as, for example and preferably, the aluminum oxyhydroxide (boehmite) precursor of the alumina.

Said dopant, when there is one of them, is advantageously introduced into a mixture with the precursor(s) of the elements from group VIB and from group VIII, some or all on the substrate shaped by dry impregnation of said substrate using a solution, preferably aqueous, that contains the precursors of metals, the precursor of phosphorus, and the precursor(s) of the dopant(s) (and also containing at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in the co-impregnation mode).

The precursors of boron can be boric acid, orthoboric acid H₃BO₃, biborate or pentaborate of ammonium, boron oxide, boric esters. Boron can be introduced by, for example, a boric acid solution in a water/alcohol mixture or else in a water/ethanolamine mixture. Preferably, the precursor of boron, if boron is introduced, is orthoboric acid.

The precursors of fluorine that can be used are well known to one skilled in the art. For example, the fluoride anions can be introduced in the form of hydrofluoric acid or of its salts. These salts are formed with alkaline metals, ammonium, or an organic compound. In this last case, salt is advantageously formed in the reaction mixture by reaction between the organic compound and hydrofluoric acid. Fluorine can be introduced by, for example, impregnation of an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid or ammonium fluoride or else ammonium bifluoride.

When the catalyst also comprises a supplementary additive (in addition to the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products) or a group of supplementary additives that is selected from an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives, the latter can be introduced into the impregnation solution of step a).

The total molar ratio of (an) organic compound(s) containing oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives to element(s) from group VIB on the catalyst is between 0.05 to 5 mol/mol, preferably between 0.1 to 4 mol/mol, in a preferred manner between 0.2 and 3 mol/mol, calculated on the basis of components that are introduced into the impregnation solution(s).

The total molar ratio of (an) organic compound(s) containing oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives in relation to the sum of 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products is between 0.05 and 6 mol/mol, preferably between 0.1 and 5 mol/mol, in a preferred manner between 0.2 and 4 mol/mol, calculated on the basis of components that are introduced into the impregnation solution(s).

Advantageously, after each impregnation step, the impregnated substrate is allowed to mature. Maturation makes it possible for the impregnation solution to disperse in a homogeneous manner within the substrate.

Any maturation step that is described in this invention is advantageously carried out at atmospheric pressure, under a water-saturated atmosphere and at a temperature of between 17° C. and 50° C., and preferably at ambient temperature. Generally, a maturation period of between 10 minutes and 48 hours, and preferably between 30 minutes and 5 hours, is adequate. Longer periods are not ruled out but do not necessarily provide an improvement.

In accordance with step b) of the preparation method according to the invention, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step a) and that is optionally matured is subjected to a drying step at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. without a subsequent calcination step.

Any drying step following the introduction of said additives that is described in this invention is carried out at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., preferably between 50 and 180° C., in a preferred manner between 70 and 150° C., and in a very preferred manner between 75 and 130° C.

The drying step is advantageously carried out by any technique that is known to one skilled in the art. It is advantageously carried out at atmospheric pressure or at reduced pressure. In a preferred manner, this step is carried out at atmospheric pressure. It is advantageously carried out in a flushed bed by using air or any other hot gas. In a preferred manner, when the drying is carried out in a fixed bed, the gas that is used is either air or an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen. In a very preferred manner, the drying is carried out in a flushed bed in the presence of nitrogen and/or air. Preferably, the drying step has a short duration of between 5 minutes and 4 hours, preferably between 30 minutes and 4 hours, and in a very preferred manner between 1 hour and 3 hours. The drying is then conducted in such a way as preferably to preserve at least 30% of the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products introduced during an impregnation step; preferably, this amount is greater than 50%, and in an even more preferred manner greater than 70%, calculated on the basis of the carbon that remains on the catalyst. When an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives is present, the drying step is carried out in such a way as preferably to preserve at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, and in a very preferred manner at least 70% of the amount that is introduced, calculated on the basis of the carbon that remains on the catalyst.

At the end of the drying step b), a dried catalyst that has not undergone any subsequent calcination step is obtained.

Co-Impregnation

According to a first implementation of step a) of the method for preparation of the (fresh) catalyst, deposition of said components of elements from group VIB, from group VIII, of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products and optionally phosphorus is initiated on said substrate, by one or more co-impregnation steps; i.e., said components of elements from group VIB, from group VIII, of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products and optionally phosphorus are introduced simultaneously into said substrate (“co-impregnation”). According to a variant, step a) is the next step:

-   -   a′) a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina is         impregnated by at least one solution that contains at least one         element from group VIB, at least one element from group VIII, at         least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone         and/or its hydrolysis products and optionally phosphorus in such         a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor.

The co-impregnation step(s) is (are) carried out preferably by dry impregnation or by excess solution impregnation. When this first mode comprises the implementation of several co-impregnation steps, each co-impregnation step is preferably followed by a step for intermediate drying at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., advantageously between 50 and 180° C., preferably between 70 and 150° C., in a very preferred manner between 75 and 130° C., and optionally a maturation period has been observed between impregnation and drying.

In a very preferred manner, during preparation via co-impregnation, the elements from group VIB and from group VIII, at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, optionally phosphorus, optionally another dopant that is selected from between boron and/or fluorine, and optionally an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives are introduced into step a) in their entirety after the shaping of said substrate, by a dry impregnation of said substrate using an aqueous impregnation solution that contains the precursors of elements from group VIB and from group VIII, at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, optionally the phosphorus precursor, optionally the dopant precursor that is selected from between boron and/or fluorine, and optionally the organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives.

Post-Impregnation

According to a second implementation of step a) of the method for preparation of (fresh) catalyst according to the invention, at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products is brought into contact with a dried and optionally calcined impregnated substrate that comprises at least one component of an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus, with said substrate being based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, in such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor.

This second implementation is a preparation by “post-impregnation” of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products. The latter is carried out by, for example, dry impregnation.

According to this second implementation, bringing into contact according to step a) comprises the following successive steps that will be presented in detail below:

-   -   a1) a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina is         impregnated by at least one solution that contains at least one         element from group VIB, at least one element from group VIII,         and optionally phosphorus to obtain an impregnated substrate,     -   a2) the impregnated substrate that is obtained in step a1) at a         temperature that is lower than 200° C. is dried to obtain a         dried impregnated substrate, and, optionally, the dried         impregnated substrate is calcined to obtain a calcined         impregnated substrate,     -   a3) the dried and optionally calcined impregnated substrate that         is obtained in step a2) is impregnated by an impregnation         solution that comprises at least one additive that is selected         from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in         such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor,     -   a4) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step         a3) is allowed to mature.

In step a1) of the implementation by post-impregnation, the introduction of the elements from group VIB and from group VIII and optionally phosphorus onto the substrate can advantageously be carried out by one or more excess solution impregnations on the substrate, or preferably by one or more dry impregnations, and in a preferred manner by a single dry impregnation of said substrate, using (a) preferably aqueous solution(s) containing the precursor(s) of the metals and preferably the phosphorus precursor.

When several impregnation steps are carried out, each impregnation step is preferably followed by an intermediate drying step at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., advantageously between 50 and 180° C., preferably between 70 and 150° C., in a very preferred manner between 75 and 130° C.; and optionally a maturation period has been observed between impregnation and drying. Each intermediate drying step, prior to the introduction of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, can be followed by a calcination step under the conditions that are described below for step a2).

In a very preferred manner, during the preparation via post-impregnation, the elements from group VIB and from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus, optionally another dopant that is selected from between boron and/or fluorine, and optionally an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives are introduced in step a1) in their entirety after the shaping of said substrate, by a dry impregnation of said substrate using an aqueous impregnation solution that contains the precursors of elements from group VIB and from group VIII, the phosphorus precursor, and optionally the dopant precursor that is selected from between boron and/or fluorine, and optionally the organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives.

According to another variant, the elements from group VIB and from group VIII and optionally phosphorus, optionally another dopant that is selected from between boron and/or fluorine, and optionally an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives can be introduced in step a1) in a sequential way by several impregnation solutions that contain one or more of the components.

Advantageously, the impregnated substrate that is obtained in step a1) is allowed to mature under the conditions that are described for the maturation above.

According to step a2), the impregnated substrate that is obtained in step a1) is dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. in order to obtain a dried impregnated substrate under the conditions that are described for the drying above.

Optionally, the dried impregnated substrate can then undergo calcination. Calcination is generally carried out at a temperature of between 200° C. and 900° C., preferably between 250° C. and 750° C. The calcination period is generally between 0.5 hour and 16 hours, preferably between 1 hour and 5 hours. It is generally carried out in air. Calcination makes it possible to transform the precursors of metals from groups VIB and VIII into oxides.

According to step a3), the dried impregnated substrate that is obtained in step a2) is impregnated by an impregnation solution that comprises at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor.

The additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products can advantageously be deposited in one or more steps either by excess impregnation, or by dry impregnation, or by any other means that is known to one skilled in the art. Preferably, said additive(s) is/are introduced by dry impregnation, in the presence or absence of a solvent as described above.

Preferably, the solvent in the impregnation solution that is used in step a3) is water, which facilitates the implementation on the industrial scale.

The additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products is/are advantageously introduced into the impregnation solution of step a3) with the molar ratios to element from group VIB or from group VIII that are described above.

When it is desired also to introduce an additional additive (in addition to the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products) or a group of additional additives selected from an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives, the latter can be introduced into the impregnation solution of step a1) and/or into the impregnation solution of step a3) or else by an additional impregnation step at any moment of the preparation method before the final drying of step b), it being understood that the calcination step is not carried out after its introduction. This compound is introduced in the proportions that are described above.

According to step a4), the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step a3) is optionally allowed to mature under the maturation conditions described above.

In accordance with step b) of the preparation method according to the invention, the catalyst precursor that has optionally been matured during step a4) is subjected to a drying step at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. without a subsequent calcination step, as described above.

Pre-Impregnation

According to a third implementation of step a) of the method for preparation of the (fresh) catalyst according to the invention, at least one component of an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus are brought into contact with the substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, which contains at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor.

This third implementation is a preparation by “pre-impregnation” of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products. The latter is carried out by, for example, dry impregnation.

According to this third implementation, bringing into contact according to step a) comprises the following successive steps that will be presented in detail below:

-   -   a1′) a substrate that comprises at least one additive that is         selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis         products and optionally at least one part of phosphorus is         prepared,     -   a2′) the substrate that is obtained in step a1′) is impregnated         by an impregnation solution that comprises at least one element         from group VIB, at least one element from group VIII, and         optionally phosphorus in such a way as to obtain a catalyst         precursor,     -   a3′) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step         a2′) is allowed to mature.

In step a1′) of the implementation by pre-impregnation, a substrate that comprises at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products and optionally at least one part of phosphorus is prepared. The additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products can be introduced at any time in the preparation of the substrate, and in a preferred manner during the shaping or by impregnation on an already formed substrate.

If the introduction of at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products on the previously shaped substrate is selected, the latter can then be carried out as is indicated for step a3) of the post-impregnation. It will then be followed by an optional step for maturation and for drying at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. under the maturation and drying conditions as described above.

If the introduction during the shaping is selected, preferably, said shaping is carried out by mixing-extrusion, by pelletization, by the drop coagulation method (oil-drop according to English terminology), by turntable granulation or by any other method that is well known to one skilled in the art. In a very preferred manner, said shaping is carried out by mixing-extrusion, with the 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products being able to be introduced at any time in the mixing-extrusion. The formed material that is obtained at the end of the shaping step then advantageously undergoes a heat treatment step at a temperature such that at least one part of said additive(s) remains present.

The same holds true for the phosphorus that is optionally present in said substrate of step a1′). Phosphorus can be introduced at any time in the preparation of the substrate, and in a preferred manner during the shaping or by impregnation on an already formed substrate as described above. If the phosphorus is introduced by itself in the shaping, i.e., without an additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products, itself then introduced by impregnation, the calcination temperature following its introduction can then advantageously be produced at a temperature that is lower than 1,000° C.

In step a2′) of the implementation by pre-impregnation, the introduction of elements from group VIB and from group VIII and optionally phosphorus can advantageously be carried out by one or more excess solution impregnations on the substrate, or preferably by one or more dry impregnations, and, in a preferred manner, by a single dry impregnation of said substrate, using (a) preferably aqueous solution(s) containing the metal precursor(s) and optionally the phosphorus precursor.

Advantageously, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step a2′) is allowed to mature under the maturation conditions described above.

When it is also desired to introduce an additional additive (in addition to the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products) or a group of additional additives that is selected from an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives, the latter can be introduced into the substrate of step a1′) during the shaping or by impregnation, and/or into the impregnation solution of step a2′) or else by an additional impregnation step at any time in the preparation method before the final drying of step b), it being understood that the calcination step is not carried out after its introduction.

The three modes described above can be implemented by themselves as described or mixed to create other hybrid preparation modes based on technical and practical constraints.

According to another alternative embodiment, bringing into contact according to step a) combines at least two modes for bringing into contact, for example the co-impregnation of an organic compound and the post-impregnation of an organic compound that can be identical to or different from the one that is used for co-impregnation, since at least one of the organic compounds is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products.

According to this alternative implementation, bringing into contact according to step a) comprises the following successive steps:

-   -   a1″) a solution that contains at least one element from group         VIB, at least one element from group VIII, at least one organic         compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur, and         optionally phosphorus is brought into contact by co-impregnation         with a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina in         such a way as to obtain an impregnated substrate,     -   a2″) the impregnated substrate that is obtained from step a1″)         is dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., without         being calcined subsequently, to obtain a dried impregnated         substrate,     -   a3″) the dried impregnated substrate that is obtained from step         a2″) is brought into contact with a solution of at least one         organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or         sulfur that is identical to or different from the one that is         used in step a1″) in such a way as to obtain a catalyst         precursor,     -   a4″) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step         a3″) is allowed to mature,         and at least one of the organic compounds of step a1″) or of         step a3″) is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its         hydrolysis products.

The operating conditions that are described above can be applied, of course, within the framework of this last embodiment.

Method for Preparation of a Rejuvenated Catalyst

The catalyst according to the invention can be a rejuvenated catalyst. This catalyst can be prepared according to the preparation method that comprises the following steps:

-   -   a) a regenerated catalyst that contains a substrate based on         alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one component of         an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element         from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus is brought into         contact with at least one additive that is selected from         2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in such a         way as to obtain a catalyst precursor,     -   b) said catalyst precursor that is obtained from step a) is         dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., without being         calcined subsequently.

According to step a), a regenerated catalyst is brought into contact with at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor. The regenerated catalyst is a catalyst that has been used as a catalyst in a catalytic unit and in particular in hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking and that has been subjected to at least one calcination step, so as to burn the coke (regeneration). Regeneration makes possible the combustion of carbon that is deposited on the catalyst during its industrial use. It can be carried out by any means known to one skilled in the art. Regeneration is in general carried out at temperatures of between 350 and 550° C., and most often between 400 and 520° C., or between 420 and 520° C., or else between 450 and 520° C., with temperatures that are lower than 500° C. often being advantageous.

The regenerated catalyst contains a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one component of an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus in the respective proportions indicated above. Following regeneration (calcination step), the hydrogenating function that comprises the elements from group VIB and from group VIII of the regenerated catalyst is in an oxide form. It can also contain dopants other than phosphorus, as described above.

According to this implementation, bringing into contact according to step a) comprises the following successive steps:

-   -   a1′″) a regenerated catalyst that contains a substrate based on         alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one component of         an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element         from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus is impregnated by an         impregnation solution that comprises at least one additive that         is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis         products, in such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor,     -   a2′″) optionally, the catalyst precursor that is obtained in         step a1′″) is allowed to mature.

Preferably, the bringing into contact of step a) is carried out by impregnation of the regenerated catalyst by an impregnation solution that comprises at least one additive that is selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products in such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor.

The additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products can advantageously be deposited in one or more steps either by excess impregnation, or by dry impregnation, or by any other means that is known to one skilled in the art. Preferably, the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products is/are introduced by dry impregnation, in the presence or absence of a solvent as described above.

Preferably, the solvent in the impregnation solution that is used is water, which facilitates implementation on the industrial scale.

The additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products is/are

advantageously introduced into the impregnation solution with the molar ratios to the element from group VIB or from group VIII described above.

When it is also desired to introduce an additional additive (in addition to the additive(s) selected from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and/or its hydrolysis products) or a group of additional additives selected from an organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur other than said additives, the latter can be introduced into the impregnation solution of step a1′″) or else by an additional impregnation step at any time of the preparation method before the final drying of step b), it being understood that a calcination step is not carried out after the introduction thereof. This compound is introduced in the proportions described above.

According to step a2′″), the catalyst precursor that is obtained in step a1′″) is optionally allowed to mature under the maturation conditions described above.

In accordance with step b) of the preparation method according to the invention, the catalyst precursor that has optionally been matured during step a2′″) is subjected to a drying step at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. without a subsequent calcination step, as described above.

Sulfurization

Before it is used for the hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking reaction, it is advantageous to transform the dried catalyst that is obtained according to any one of the introduction methods described in this invention into a sulfurized catalyst so as to form its active radical. This step of activation or sulfurization is carried out by the methods that are well known to one skilled in the art and advantageously under a sulfo-reducing atmosphere in the presence of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide.

At the end of step b) according to the various preparation modes of the method according to the invention, said catalyst that is obtained is therefore advantageously subjected to a sulfurization step, without an intermediate calcination step.

Said dried catalyst is advantageously sulfurized in an ex situ or in situ manner. The sulfurizing agents are the gas H₂S or any other compound that contains sulfur that is used for the activation of hydrocarbon feedstocks for the purpose of sulfurizing the catalyst. Said compounds that contain sulfur are advantageously selected from among the alkyl disulfides, such as, for example, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS); alkyl sulfides, such as, for example, dimethyl sulfide; thiols, such as, for example, n-butylmercaptan (or 1-butanethiol); polysulfide compounds, such as tert-nonyl polysulfide; or any other compound that is known to one skilled in the art that makes it possible to obtain a good sulfurization of the catalyst. In a preferred manner, the catalyst is sulfurized in situ in the presence of a sulfurizing agent and a hydrocarbon feedstock. In a very preferred manner, the catalyst is sulfurized in situ in the presence of an additive hydrocarbon feedstock of dimethyl disulfide.

Method for Hydrotreatment and/or Hydrocracking

Finally, another object of the invention is the use of the catalyst according to the invention or prepared according to the preparation method according to the invention in methods for hydrotreating and/or hydrocracking hydrocarbon fractions.

The catalyst according to the invention and that preferably previously has undergone a sulfurization step is advantageously used for the reactions for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks, such as petroleum fractions, fractions obtained from carbon, or hydrocarbons produced from natural gas, optionally in mixtures or else from a hydrocarbon fraction that is obtained from the biomass and more particularly for the following reactions: hydrogenation, hydrodenitrification, hydrodearomatization, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodeoxygenation, hydrodemetallization or hydroconversion of hydrocarbon feedstocks.

In these uses, the catalyst according to the invention and that preferably has previously undergone a sulfurization step has improved activity in relation to the catalysts of the prior art. This catalyst can also advantageously be used during the pretreatment of feedstocks for catalytic cracking or hydrocracking, or the hydrodesulfurization of residues or the intense hydrodesulfurization of diesel fuels (ULSD Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel according to English terminology).

The feedstocks that are used in the hydrotreatment method are, for example, gasolines, diesel fuels, vacuum diesel fuels, atmospheric residues, vacuum residues, atmospheric distillates, vacuum distillates, heavy fuels, oils, waxes and paraffins, waste oils, deasphalted crudes or residues, feedstocks that are obtained from thermal or catalytic conversion methods, lignocellulosic feedstocks or more generally feedstocks obtained from the biomass, taken by themselves or in a mixture. The feedstocks that are treated, and in particular those cited above, generally contain heteroatoms, such as sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen, and, for the heavy feedstocks, they most often also contain metals.

The operating conditions that are used in the methods implementing the reactions for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon feedstocks described above are generally as follows: the temperature is advantageously between 180 and 450° C., and preferably between 250 and 440° C.; the pressure is advantageously between 0.5 and 30 MPa, and preferably between 1 and 18 MPa; the hourly volumetric flow rate is advantageously between 0.1 and 20 h⁻¹, and preferably between 0.2 and 5 h⁻¹; and the hydrogen/feedstock ratio that is expressed in terms of volume of hydrogen, measured under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, to the volume of liquid feedstock is advantageously between 50 l/l to 5,000 l/l, and preferably 80 to 2,000 l/l.

According to a first mode of use, said hydrotreatment method according to the invention is a method for hydrotreatment and in particular hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of a diesel fuel fraction that is produced in the presence of at least one catalyst according to the invention. The object of said hydrotreatment method according to the invention is to eliminate the sulfur-containing compounds that are present in said diesel fuel fraction so as to reach the environmental standards that are in force, namely a sulfur content that is allowed up to 10 ppm. It also makes it possible to reduce the contents of aromatic compounds and nitrogen in the diesel fuel fraction that is to be hydrotreated.

Said diesel fuel fraction that is to be hydrotreated according to the method of the invention contains from 0.02 to 5.0% by weight of sulfur. It is advantageously obtained from the direct distillation (or straight run diesel fuel according to English terminology), from a coking unit (coking according to English terminology), from a viscoreduction unit (visbreaking according to English terminology), from a steam-cracking unit (steam cracking according to English terminology), from a unit for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of heavier feedstocks and/or a catalytic cracking unit (Fluid Catalytic Cracking according to English terminology). Said diesel fuel fraction preferably has at least 90% of the compounds whose boiling point is between 250° C. and 400° C. at atmospheric pressure.

The method for hydrotreatment of said diesel fuel fraction according to the invention is implemented under the following operating conditions: a temperature of between 200 and 400° C., preferably between 300 and 380° C.; a total pressure of between 2 MPa and 10 MPa, and more preferably between 3 MPa and 8 MPa; with a ratio of hydrogen volume to volume of hydrocarbon feedstock, expressed in terms of hydrogen volume, measured under the normal conditions of temperature and pressure, to volume of liquid feedstock, of between 100 and 600 liters per liter and more preferably between 200 and 400 liters per liter; and an hourly volumetric flow rate of between 1 and 10 h⁻¹, preferably between 2 and 8 h⁻¹. The VVH corresponds to the inverse of the contact time that is expressed in hours and is defined by the ratio of the volumetric flow rate of liquid hydrocarbon feedstock to the volume of charged catalyst in the reaction unit that implements the hydrotreatment method according to the invention. The reaction unit that implements the method for hydrotreatment of said diesel fuel fraction according to the invention is preferably operated in a fixed bed, in a moving bed, or in a boiling bed, preferably in a fixed bed.

According to a second mode of use, said method for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking according to the invention is a method for hydrotreatment (in particular hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrification, hydrogenation of aromatic compounds) and/or for hydrocracking of a vacuum distillate fraction produced in the presence of at least one catalyst according to the invention. If appropriate, the object of said hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking method, otherwise called hydrocracking pretreatment method or hydrocracking method according to the invention, is to eliminate the sulfur-containing, nitrogen-containing, or aromatic compounds that are present in said distillate fraction in such a way as to carry out a pretreatment before conversion in methods for catalytic cracking or hydroconversion, or to hydrocrack the distillate fraction that would optionally previously have been pretreated if necessary.

Highly varied feedstocks can be treated by the methods for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of vacuum distillates described above. Generally, they contain at least 20% by volume and often at least 80% by volume of compounds that boil above 340° C. at atmospheric pressure. The feedstock can be, for example, vacuum distillates as well as feedstocks that come from units for extraction of aromatic compounds from lubricating oil bases or obtained from dewaxing with solvent from lubricating oil bases, and/or deasphalted oils, or else the feedstock can be a deasphalted oil or paraffins obtained from the Fischer-Tropsch method or else any mixture of the feedstocks cited above. In general, the feedstocks have a boiling point T5 of higher than 340° C. at atmospheric pressure, and even better higher than 370° C. at atmospheric pressure; i.e., 95% of the compounds that are present in the feedstock have a boiling point higher than 340° C., and even better higher than 370° C. The nitrogen content of the feedstocks that are treated in the methods according to the invention is usually greater than 200 ppm by weight, preferably between 500 and 10,000 ppm by weight. The sulfur content of the feedstocks that are treated in the methods according to the invention is usually between 0.01 and 5.0% by weight. The feedstock can optionally contain metals (for example, nickel and vanadium). The asphaltene content is generally less than 3,000 ppm by weight.

The hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking catalyst is generally brought into contact, in the presence of hydrogen, with the feedstocks described above, at a temperature of higher than 200° C., often between 250° C. and 480° C., advantageously between 320° C. and 450° C., preferably between 330° C. and 435° C.; under a pressure of higher than 1 MPa, often between 2 and 25 MPa, in a preferred manner between 3 and 20 MPa; with the volumetric flow rate being between 0.1 and 20.0 h⁻¹ and preferably 0.1-6.0 h⁻¹, preferably 0.2-3.0 h⁻¹; and the amount of hydrogen introduced is such that the volumetric ratio of liter of hydrogen/liter of hydrocarbon, expressed in terms of hydrogen volume, measured under the normal conditions of temperature and pressure, to volume of liquid feedstock, is between 80 and 5,000 l/l and most often between 100 and 2,000 l/l. These operating conditions that are used in the methods according to the invention generally make it possible to reach conversions per pass into products that have boiling points of lower than 340° C. at atmospheric pressure, and even lower than 370° C. at atmospheric pressure, higher than 15%, and in an even more preferred manner between 20 and 95%.

The methods for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of vacuum distillates that implement catalysts according to the invention cover the fields of pressure and conversion ranging from soft hydrocracking to high-pressure hydrocracking. Soft hydrocracking is defined as hydrocracking that leads to moderate conversions, generally less than 40%, and operating at low pressure, generally between 2 MPa and 6 MPa.

The catalyst according to the invention can be used by itself, in one or more catalytic beds, in a fixed bed, in one or more reactors, in a so-called one-step hydrocracking scheme, with or without liquid recycling of the unconverted fraction, or else in a so-called two-step hydrocracking scheme, optionally combined with a hydrorefining catalyst that is located upstream from the catalyst of this invention.

According to a third mode of use, said hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking method according to the invention is advantageously implemented as pretreatment in a fluidized-bed catalytic cracking method (or FCC method for Fluid Catalytic Cracking according to English terminology). The operating conditions of the pretreatment in terms of range of temperature, pressure, hydrogen recycling rate, hourly volumetric flow rate are generally identical to those described above for the methods for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of vacuum distillates. The FCC method can be executed in a conventional manner that is known to ones skilled in the art under adequate cracking conditions for the purpose of producing hydrocarbon products of lower molecular weight. A summary description of catalytic cracking will be found in, for example, ULLMANS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY, VOLUME A 18, 1991, pages 61 to 64.

According to a fourth mode of use, said hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking method according to the invention is a method for hydrotreatment (in particular hydrodesulfurization) of a gasoline fraction in the presence of at least one catalyst according to the invention.

In contrast to other hydrotreatment methods, the hydrotreatment (in particular the hydrodesulfurization) of gasolines is supposed to make it possible to meet two competing constraints: to ensure a deep hydrodesulfurization of gasolines and to limit the hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds that are present so as to limit the octane number loss.

The feedstock is generally a hydrocarbon fraction that has a distillation interval of between 30 and 260° C. Preferably, this hydrocarbon fraction is a gasoline-type fraction. In a very preferred manner, the gasoline fraction is an olefinic gasoline fraction that is obtained from, for example, a catalytic cracking unit (Fluid Catalytic Cracking according to the English terminology).

The hydrotreatment method consists in bringing the hydrocarbon fraction into contact with the catalyst according to the invention and hydrogen under the following conditions: at a temperature of between 200 and 400° C., preferably between 230 and 330° C.; at a total pressure of between 1 and 3 MPa, preferably between 1.5 and 2.5 MPa; at an hourly volumetric flow rate (VVH), defined as being the volumetric flow rate of feedstock relative to the catalyst volume, of between 1 and 10 h⁻¹, preferably between 2 and 6 h⁻¹; and with a gasoline feedstock/hydrogen volumetric ratio of between 100 and 600 Nl/l, preferably between 200 and 400 Nl/l.

The method for hydrotreatment of gasolines can be carried out in one or more fixed-bed-type or boiling-bed-type reactors arranged in series. If the method is implemented by means of at least two reactors arranged in series, it is possible to provide a device for eliminating H₂S from the effluent that is obtained from the first hydrodesulfurization reactor before treating said effluent in the second hydrodesulfurization reactor.

The following examples demonstrate the significant increase in activity on the catalysts that are prepared according to the method according to the invention in relation to the catalysts of the prior art and explain the invention without, however, limiting its scope.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Preparation of CoMoP Catalysts on Alumina without C1 and C2 Organic Compounds (Non-Compliant with the Invention)

Cobalt, molybdenum, and phosphorus are added to an alumina substrate that has a BET surface area of 230 m²/g, a pore volume that is obtained by mercury porosimetry of 0.78 ml/g, and a mean pore diameter of 11.5 nm that is defined as the median volume diameter by mercury porosimetry and that comes in “extruded” form. The impregnation solution is prepared by dissolution at 90° C. of molybdenum oxide (21.1 g) and cobalt hydroxide (5.04 g) in 11.8 g of an aqueous solution of 85% phosphoric acid and water. After dry impregnation, the extrudates are allowed to mature under a water-saturated atmosphere for 24 hours at ambient temperature, and then they are dried at 90° C. for 16 hours. The thus obtained dried catalytic precursor is denoted C1. Calcination of the C1 catalytic precursor at 450° C. for 2 hours results in the C2 calcined catalyst. The final composition of the C1 and C2 catalysts that is expressed in the form of oxides and relative to the dry catalyst mass is then as follows: MoO₃=19.5±0.2% by weight, CoO=3.8±0.1% by weight, and P₂O₅=6.7±0.1% by weight.

Example 2: Preparation of the CoMoP Catalysts on C3 Alumina (Not Compliant with the Invention), C4 Alumina (Compliant with the Invention) by Co-Impregnation

Cobalt, molybdenum, and phosphorus are added to the alumina substrate that was described previously in Example 1 and that comes in “extruded” form. The impregnation solution is prepared by dissolution at 90° C. of molybdenum oxide (28.28 g) and cobalt hydroxide (6.57 g) in 15.85 g of an aqueous solution of 85% phosphoric acid and water. After homogenization of the preceding mixture, 38 g of citric acid was added before adjustment of the solution volume to the pore volume of the substrate by addition of water. The (citric acid)/Mo molar ratio is equal to 1 mol/mol and that of (citric acid)/Co is equal to 2.7 mol/mol. After dry impregnation, the extrudates are allowed to mature under a water-saturated atmosphere for 24 hours at ambient temperature, and then they are dried at 120° C. for 16 hours. The thus obtained dried catalytic precursor is denoted C3. The final composition of the C3 catalyst, expressed in the form of oxides and relative to the dry catalyst mass, is then as follows: MoO₃=19.6±0.2% by weight, CoO=3.7±0.1% by weight, and P₂O₅=6.7±0.1% by weight.

The C4 catalyst according to the invention is prepared as follows. Cobalt, molybdenum, and phosphorus are added to the alumina substrate that is described in Example 1 and that comes in “extruded” form. An impregnation solution has been prepared by dissolution at 90° C. of molybdenum oxide (58.5 g) and cobalt hydroxide (13.6 g) in 32.8 g of an aqueous solution of 85% phosphoric acid and water. After homogenization of the preceding mixture, 2-acetylbutyrolactone was added into the solution at 0.5 mol per mol of molybdenum or 1.4 mol per mol of cobalt to result in the C4 catalyst. The volume of the solution was adjusted to the pore volume of the substrate by addition of water before each impregnation. After dry impregnation, the extrudates of the two catalysts were allowed to mature under a water-saturated atmosphere for 24 hours at ambient temperature, and then dried at 120° C. for 16 hours. The final composition of the C4 catalyst that is expressed in the form of oxides and relative to the dry catalyst mass is then as follows: MoO₃=19.4±0.2% by weight, CoO=3.6±0.1% by weight, and P₂O₅=6.8±0.1% by weight.

Example 3: Preparation of the CoMoP Catalyst on C5 Alumina (Compliant with the Invention) by Pre-Impregnation

13 g of 2-acetylbutyrolactone that is diluted in water is added to the alumina substrate described previously in Example 1 and that comes in “extruded” form in such a way as to obtain a solution with the total volume equal to the pore volume of the substrate. The thus formed solution is then impregnated in the dry state on the substrate before observing a maturation period of 3 hours under a water-saturated atmosphere and at ambient temperature, followed by a drying at 120° C. for 2 hours. The modified substrate is then impregnated by a new impregnation solution that is prepared by hot dissolution of molybdenum oxide (29.25 g) and cobalt hydroxide (6.80 g) in 16.4 g of an aqueous solution of 85% phosphoric acid and water by taking care to adjust—by adding water—the volume of this latter solution to the pore volume of the preceding modified substrate. After dry impregnation, the extrudates were allowed to mature under a water-saturated atmosphere for 24 hours at ambient temperature, and then dried at 120° C. for 16 hours to result in the C5 catalyst. The final composition of the C5 catalyst that is expressed in the form of oxides and relative to the dry catalyst mass is then as follows: MoO₃=19.3±0.2% by weight, CoO=3.5±0.1% by weight, and P₂O₅=6.6±0.1% by weight. The amounts involved are such that the amount of 2-acetylbutyrolactone is 0.5 mol per mol of molybdenum or 1.4 mol per mol of cobalt.

Example 4: HDS Evaluation of Diesel Fuel of the C1, C2 and C3 Catalysts (Not Compliant with the Invention) and C4 and C5 Catalysts (Compliant with the Invention)

The C1, C2 and C3 catalysts (not compliant with the invention) and C4 and C5 catalysts (compliant with the invention) have undergone diesel fuel HDS testing.

Characteristics of the diesel fuel feedstock that is used: density at 15° C.: 0.8522 g/cm³, sulfur: 1.44% by weight.

-   -   Simulated Distillation:         -   PI: 155° C.         -   10%: 247° C.         -   50%: 315° C.         -   90%: 392° C.         -   PF: 444° C.

The test is conducted in an isothermal pilot reactor with a flushed fixed bed, with the fluids circulating upward. After sulfurization in situ at 350° C. in the pressurized unit by means of the diesel fuel of the test to which 2% by weight of dimethyl disulfide is added, the hydrodesulfurization test was conducted under the following operating conditions: a total pressure of 7 MPa, a catalyst volume of 30 cm³, a temperature from 330 to 360° C., a hydrogen flow rate of 24 l/h, and a feedstock flow rate of 60 cm³/h.

The catalytic performances of the tested catalysts are provided in Table 1. They are expressed in terms of degrees Celsius starting from a catalyst for comparison that is selected as a reference (C2): they correspond to the temperature deviation that is to be applied in order to reach 50 ppm of sulfur in the effluent. A negative value means that the sulfur content target is reached for a lower temperature, and there is therefore an increase in activity. A positive value means that the sulfur content target is reached for a higher temperature, and there is therefore a loss of activity. The results that are obtained are recorded in Table 1.

Table 1 clearly shows the increase in the catalytic effect provided by 2-acetylbutyrolactone. Actually, the C4 and C5 catalysts (according to the invention) have higher levels of activity than those obtained for all of the other catalysts that were evaluated. 2-Acetylbutyrolactone therefore provides an increase in catalytic activity regardless of its method of introduction.

The advantage of the catalyst according to the invention is significant when it has a smaller proportion of organic compound than the C3 catalyst, thus with an inherent effectiveness of 2-acetylbutyrolactone that is greater than that of the other compounds for which it is necessary to introduce a larger proportion of compound in order to observe a significant catalytic effect.

TABLE 1 Iso-Volume Relative Activity in Terms of Diesel-Fuel Hydrodesulfurization of C1, C2 and C3 Catalysts (Not Compliant with the Invention) and C4 and C5 Catalysts (Compliant with the Invention) in Relation to the C2 Catalyst (Non-Compliant) Method for introduction of Catalyst (for Organic compound that is the organic comparison or used compound according to and (post-/co-/pre- Heat the invention) molar ratio/Mo impregnation) treatment HDS activity C1 (comp) None Without an Dried Base + 1.0° C. object 120° C. C2 (comp) None Without an Calcined Base object C3 (comp) Citric acid - 1.0 CO Dried Base − 2.9° C. 120° C. C4 (inv) 2-Acetylbutyrolactone - CO Dried Base − 4.9° C. 0.5 120° C. C5 (inv) 2-Acetylbutyrolactone - PRE Dried Base − 5.1° C. 0.5 120° C. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A catalyst comprising a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one element from group VIII, at least one element from group VIB, and an additive that is at least one of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid.
 2. The catalyst according to claim 1, in which the content of element from group VIB is 5 to 40% by weight expressed in terms of metal oxide from group VIB in relation to the total weight of the catalyst, and the content of element from group VIII is 1 to 10% by weight that is expressed in terms of metal oxide from group VIII in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.
 3. The catalyst according to claim 1, in which the molar ratio of element from group VIII to element from group VIB in the catalyst is 0.1 to 0.8.
 4. The catalyst according to claim 1, further comprising 0.1 to 20% by weight of phosphorus, expressed in terms of P₂O₅ in relation to the total weight of the catalyst, and having a molar ratio of phosphorus to the element from group VIB in the catalyst greater than or equal to 0.05.
 5. The catalyst according to claim 1, in which the total content of 2 acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid additives is 1 to 45% by weight in relation to the total weight of the catalyst.
 6. The catalyst according to claim 1, further comprising an organic compound other than the 2 acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid additives, with said organic compound containing oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or a mixture thereof.
 7. The catalyst according to claim 6, in which the organic compound is a compound that comprises one or more carboxylic, alcohol, thiol, thioether, sulfone, sulfoxide, ether, aldehyde, ketone, ester, carbonate, amine, nitrile, imide, oxime, urea, or amide groups.
 8. The catalyst according to claim 7, in which the organic compound is triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), maleic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, propylene carbonate, bicine, or tricine.
 9. The catalyst according to claim 1, in which the substrate contains from 0.1 to 50% by weight of zeolite.
 10. The catalyst according to claim 1, that is at least partially sulfurized.
 11. A method for preparation of a catalyst according to claim 1 comprising: a) contacting at least one component of an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element from group VIII, at least one additive that is at least one of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid, and optionally phosphorus with a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, or contacting a regenerated catalyst that contains a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, at least one component of an element from group VIB, at least one component of an element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus with at least one 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid additive, in such a way as to obtain a catalyst precursor, b) said catalyst precursor that is obtained from a) is dried at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., without being calcined subsequently.
 12. The method according to claim 11, in which a) comprises: a′) impregnating the substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina by at least one solution that contains the at least one element from group VIB, the at least one element from group VIII, the additive that is at least one of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid, and optionally phosphorus in such a way as to obtain the catalyst precursor.
 13. The method according to claim 11, in which a) comprises: a1) impregnating the substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina by at least one solution that contains the at least one element from group VIB, the at least one element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus to obtain an impregnated substrate, a2) drying the impregnated substrate that is obtained in a1) at a temperature that is lower than 200° C. to obtain a dried impregnated substrate, and optionally calcining the dried impregnated substrate to obtain a calcined impregnated substrate, a3) impregnating the dried and optionally calcined impregnated substrate that is obtained in a2) by an impregnation solution that comprises the additive that is at least one of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid in such a way as to obtain the catalyst precursor, a4) optionally, maturing the catalyst precursor that is obtained in a3).
 14. The method according to claim 11, in which a) comprises: a1′) preparing a substrate that comprises the additive that is at least one of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid, and optionally at least one part of phosphorus, a2′) impregnating the substrate that is obtained in a1′) by an impregnation solution that comprises the at least one element from group VIB, the at least one element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus in such a way as to obtain the catalyst precursor, a3′) optionally maturing the catalyst precursor that is obtained in a2′).
 15. The method according to claim 11, in which a) comprises: a1″) contacting by co-impregnating a solution that contains the at least one element from group VIB, the at least one element from group VIII, at least one organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur, and optionally phosphorus with the substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina in such a way as to obtain an impregnated substrate, a2″) drying the impregnated substrate that is obtained from a1″) at a temperature that is lower than 200° C., without being calcined subsequently, to obtain a dried impregnated substrate, a3″) contacting the dried impregnated substrate that is obtained from a2″) with a solution of at least one organic compound that contains oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or sulfur that is identical to or different from the one that is used in a1″) in such a way as to obtain the catalyst precursor, and a4″) optionally maturing the catalyst precursor that is obtained in a3″), wherein at least one of the organic compounds of a1″) or of a3″) is at least one of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid.
 16. The method according to claim 11, in which a) comprises: a1′″) impregnating the regenerated catalyst that contains a substrate based on alumina or silica or silica-alumina, the at least one component of an element from group VIB, the at least one component of an element from group VIII, and optionally phosphorus by an impregnation solution that comprises the additive that is at least one of 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, or 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid in such a way as to obtain the catalyst precursor, a2′″) optionally maturing the catalyst precursor that is obtained in a1′″).
 17. The method according to claim 11, in which the total molar ratio of the additive(s) 2-acetylbutyrolactone, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butenoic acid to element(s) from group VIII is 0.1 to 5.0 mol/mol.
 18. A method for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of hydrocarbon fractions, comprising subjecting said fractions to hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking conditions in the presence of a catalyst according to claim
 1. 